Little Lever missed out on the chance to play at the home of cricket, Lord’s, after a fine run in the ECB National Indoor Cricket tournament.
The winners of the North West Cricket League’s Anthony Axford Indoor Trophy represented Lancashire at the area finals last Sunday at Derbyshire CCC.
They met Grasshoppers, who were representing Shropshire, in the second semi-final of the day which turned out to be a nail-biter of a game with Little Lever winning by two runs.
The Bolton side batted first and made 128-4. Josh Gent scored 37, supported by Cameron Murray, with 28 not out, and Jack Hamlett (22no).
In their chase for 128, Grasshoppers fell just short on 124-4.
Hamlett bowled the last over and coped very well under pressure. If a six had been scored off the last ball, Grasshoppers would have won.
Leading wicket-taker for Little lever was Mukhtar Nisar, with 3-19 off his three overs.
With very little time after finishing their semi-final, Little Lever met the winner of the first semi-final - Ockbrook and Borrowash CC representing Derbyshire - in the final.
Ockbrook and Barrowash won the toss and batted first and made 136-4. A very early wicket gave Little Lever a good start, but a few dropped catches enabled their opposition to post a big target .
In reply, Little Lever did not really get going, losing Murray and Joe Capstick early on, and faced an uphill battle and were all out for 53. Top scorer was Nisar, with 30.
It meant a visit to Lords in the national finals was missed, but the club can be proud of their achievement in getting so far.
